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Labor Group: Mcdonald's Toy Plant Fired Child Workers

September 05, 2000|By From Tribune News Services.

HONG KONG, CHINA — Scores of underage workers hired in a mainland China factory that makes toys for McDonald's were fired following recent media reports about the situation, a Hong Kong labor-monitoring group said Monday.

Factory officials also threatened the teenagers into lying about workplace conditions if asked by inspectors, according to the Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee. The group said it obtained its information by talking to some of the workers.

McDonald's said Monday it has a strict policy for working conditions at plants run by its suppliers--prohibiting child labor among other things--and any company that doesn't comply can lose its business from McDonald's.